Moon Geun-young in talks to headline sageuk

There have been rumblings about Moon Geun-young (Alice in Cheongdam-dong) taking on a new historical drama, and it looks like the deal is shaping up — it’s still in “considering favorably” stages, but if contract signing goes off without a hitch, Moon will star in the new MBC sageuk Goddess of Fire Jung-yi, set to follow Gu Family Book later this year. Guess the network isn’t straying from its tried-and-true Monday sageuk lineup anytime soon.

The 32-episode historical drama will be helmed by the PD of Heading to the Ground and the writer of Warrior Baek Dong-soo (too bad it’s not the other way around, as the directing was the better half of Baek Dong-soo). It takes place in late 16th-century Joseon, and will be based on the life of a real historical figure — ceramic artist Baek Pa-sun, who was the first female potter in Joseon. In the Japanese invasions starting in 1592, communities of potters (among other artisans and craftsmen) were forcibly relocated to Japan in an ongoing war of cultural capital. Baek Pa-sun was among those who were uprooted and forced to continue their craft for the Japanese. The drama will follow her eventful life story.

I’m looking forward to seeing Moon Geun-young back in a serious role, (and her first sageuk in five years since Painter of the Wind). I guess she can’t be entirely blamed for Alice or Mary… but she didn’t do anything outstanding with those roles either. Okay, there wasn’t a lot TO DO. Just count me as one of those people who much prefer her serious, darker roles. I like that the drama is taking on an interesting figure in history, in a story that hasn’t been done to death a million times. The casting call is out for her leading man, so start your fantasy draft picks now.

Goddess of Fire Jung-yi will follow Gu Family Book and premieres in June on MBC.

March 6, 2013 at 4:17 PM

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Wow, glad someone also wants to see these two in a drama! Though I really want to see them in a sageuk, but I want Joo Won to take a rest after Level 7. It won't hurt to take a long vacation this time :)

March 7, 2013 at 12:38 AM

March 7, 2013 at 10:29 AM

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OMG so its not just me who want this pair to act together!! Even though JW has mere chance of acting in this drama with her I hope in the future they do act together!! Two same age Moons from Sungkyunkwan University..It would be Daebak :)

March 6, 2013 at 4:28 PM

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I'm still bitter about his unnecessary death in Moon/Sun as well... As if it wasn't enough that he didn't get the girl and got his heart crushed a million time, he has to break mine as well when he just stood there to get impaled...

March 7, 2013 at 7:41 AM

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I agree; it was such an unnecessary death. I guess the last two episodes turned Shakespearean in their death count. Then again, the main purpose of the other characters only seemed to be to bring the main couple together. After that, it didn't matter whether or not they died.

March 6, 2013 at 10:47 PM

March 7, 2013 at 9:19 AM

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yes! jung il woo for sure!! i keep wondering what is taking the boy so long?!?... AND he had mentioned he wanted to work with MGY one day! which day is better than today?! :))
MGY is a wonderful actress! acting so many memorable roles in such a young age...! (i think i have to admit she was more beautiful as a child actress than an adult...) but in terms of acting, she's still one of the bests... just dont know why she had to choose such lame dramas lately :/ hope this one will bring her back to the top! :D + JIW?!

March 6, 2013 at 7:40 PM

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He's starring in the drama set to air just before this one (Gu Family Book), so I don't think that he'll do 2 projects back to back. It's impossible anyway, since he'd be filming while this one starts to shoot

March 6, 2013 at 7:58 PM

March 6, 2013 at 4:16 PM

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I'm not too big on Moon Geun-young even though I've seen two of her movies and her role in Cinderella's Sister before I quit that drama halfway through. Maybe if more details of the storyline appear and it sounds interesting, then I might pick up this drama.

March 6, 2013 at 6:19 PM

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I don't like her either - I have yet to be able to finish a drama that she was in, although I got closest to the finish with Painter. With her seriousness and total lack of sexual energy on-screen (no chemistry, ever, as far as I can see) I think the sageuk is the best bet for her.

March 6, 2013 at 6:28 PM

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Why you can say that ? She doesn't have chemistry with whom ? She pair with Jang Geun Suk in MMM and you can see their amazing chemistry . I think that you don't know much about my Moonie , so why you are here ? Get to the page that you like .

March 6, 2013 at 7:09 PM

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Yikes, this is an open forum where differing opinions are welcome. Even those different from yours. Feel free to disagree and argue your side, but I don't think you should tell other people to leave because they express a negative opinion of your favorite actress or actor.

October 26, 2013 at 2:13 PM

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I am an older person. I have seen so many movies and dramas in my day... Rated GP to R. I find that Miss Moon to be an amazing actress. She makes me, cry,laugh and look forward to her next project. I have seen everything she has done, that's on line in America. Having seen so..much .
I loved Mary/Alice/Cinder/Bride/In Step/Painter...
Thank You for your talent....

March 7, 2013 at 6:28 PM

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poor the other actress then..if someone who got daesang at 20 called average acting, the others would be...blah blah and blah..trash and trash...
you can call her chemistry and all, but acting term, when you call her average...i feel a pity with your idol. did they even got daesang already ? i bet they still dream about that

March 6, 2013 at 4:27 PM

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woah I love that picture of Moon Geun Young. I also agree. I like Moon Geun Young in her darker roles. I loved her when she was the younger ver. in Cinderella Sister, and her melo roles and etc.etc.
I'm looking forward to this drama but I know I shouldn't have too high expectations because...that writer...um. . . hot mess.

March 6, 2013 at 4:51 PM

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i love the names suggested here thus far. has joo won been in a sageuk before? i also love jung il woo and he has mentioned wanting to work with moon geun young before. i just pray that mgy will get a well-written drama where she can show off her acting chops (i also think serious roles fit her better).

March 6, 2013 at 5:28 PM

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um no, she is not the Kristen Stewart of anywhere.....Moon Geun Young is one of the most talented actress her age in Korea...forget Alice or Mary (she should never act in any shows with English names anymore)....check her out in Painter of the Wind...she totally takes your breath away

March 10, 2013 at 10:03 PM

March 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM

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You know, I actually prefer any of the idol actresses that I absolutely hate to see in a drama than Kristen Stewart.

Bad enough that KS acted in an adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's stupid series, but she also acted badly as always (and how was she fairer than Charlize Theron in SW&TH?), plus the girl doesn't even know how to smile in red carpet events. Add the way she dresses, styles her hair (was that bed hair during this year's Oscars?), and cheat on her boyfriend AND commit adultery at the same time...now that I think about it, I actually like that Rosie something-something in the last Transformers film better than her.

March 6, 2013 at 6:32 PM

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How can you say that ? You don't understand well about Alice in CDDA , she has to be like that . The writer is the worst , they draw an Alice not real and not resonable , not logistic . Ok ?
About her talent , I think you should watch more film of her to understand .

March 6, 2013 at 7:32 PM

March 6, 2013 at 7:50 PM

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No, seriously loveydovey I see you had a ? at the end, so let me answer it. No. She is not like the Kristen Stewart of kdramas. She is "the nation's little sister" Moon Geun Young. She is salsa dancing, 10 gallon tear holding, pencil stabbing, no-love needing, goosebumps giver crossdresser Moon. Geun. Young.

And, let's be honest, I sometime wish that Kristen Stewart is not like Kristen Stewart!

March 7, 2013 at 7:51 AM

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I'm glad to see this preposterous question got the dragging it deserved.

I'm not a huge fan of Moon Geun Young, but she has talent and more than one facial expression. Those two things alone would differentiate her from that Twatlight twit, even if you didn't go into the millions of other reasons why almost any actress working in Korea today is superior to Kristin Stewart.

March 6, 2013 at 5:11 PM

March 6, 2013 at 5:22 PM

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PSH.. LOL hahhaha just kidding. I am sick.. I need to laugh..
Anyway, I would love Song Joong Ki and Moon Guen Young. I think I would prefer the director of Warrior Baek Dong Soo too. The writer of WBDS hrmm.. It was good the first half the second half I did not finish because it was a kinda a flop to me... However, I doo hope they Mr. HOTTIE Spy Lord in this drama.. Make it happen Kdrama god!!!

March 6, 2013 at 5:36 PM

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God I would love to see SJK wth MGY ...but I have a feeling he will be enlisting in the army later this year...wonder if he'd still be up for the commitment to star in a long sageuk before that...last thing we'll need is another Bad Guy like situation

March 6, 2013 at 5:29 PM

March 6, 2013 at 5:30 PM

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Would it be too much to ask for Park Yoo Chun? I know he just recently wrapped up I Miss You (which sadly, I couldn't bring myself to watch) but the guy can handle sageuk pretty well, IMO. He looks mighty fine in sageuk garb too. :)

March 6, 2013 at 5:59 PM

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Anyone else but my LMH please! Even if I do want to see him with another mane of glory, I'd like to see him in a new rom-com or action-revenge drama with (please, drama gods!) a great PD. Personal Taste & Faith could've been loads better if only the PD had a more creative/artistic flair.

March 6, 2013 at 6:39 PM

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Yes. Please Drama God, lee min ho in a good rom-com with good PD and writer.
For me, MGY is more attractive in a serious role, so I am looking forward to this drama. Like many others said, Jung il woo and Im joo hwan would be good choice.

March 6, 2013 at 5:33 PM

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The director of Heading to the Ground??!!!! Usually whenever I hear anything associated to that drama I run for the hills...except Moon Geun Young!!!!!!!
I was hoping she'd pick up the Princess Deokhye sageuk film instead of this one...but I guess I'll take what I can get of her in any sageuk...I need to finish Alice before this starts first...though I have very little compulsion to do so especially now with all the Park Shi Hoo brouhaha
As for leading men....hmmm...I would love to see Bae Soo Bin get a lead role for once instead of all these hot young actors

March 7, 2013 at 6:13 AM

March 19, 2013 at 5:02 PM

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I agree that the script of princess deokhye look more interesting! and I think the scripter is famous! Goddess of jeoggi, I don't know why but just by reading the synopsis I'm boring!! She need a good drama, the last one had icredible start but where desapointing. But it doesn't change my mind. MGY were incredible in all of them.. the problem was the script and the direction that was given to her caracters.
But, I might be the only one but I liked alice in cheongdamdong. Sometimes I was desapointed, feeling that she was too inexpressive, and some other times I was so impressed with the script and her acting... this drama si slow, more psychologic. You can't start it expecting a romantic comedy.Some people felt bored, and me this drama made me think a lot.

Whatever, I hope she can find a role who make all the haters shut up. In autumn tale she was eclipsing all the actors, I couldn't love the adults because I loved the child too much.

Wish her with Yoochun, (and goong yoo and eric mun even if they don't really look well together). But not in this drama! In a comedy!she cried too much in cheongdam dong!

March 6, 2013 at 5:37 PM

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Oh I heard the drama producers for this drama were dead set on MGY. I hope this is good one for her sake

Ohh male leads. Jung Ill-woo is due for a drama comeback. Or Im Joo-hwan since's back from the army. Maybe Kim Nam-gil?? Not sure if they would go together. OR Kim Ja-wook!! They were so cute in MSOAN and he's getting discharged soon, right??

March 6, 2013 at 5:58 PM

March 6, 2013 at 9:33 PM

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agree with you....i read somewhere that the producers are courting MGY for this sageuk drama even though alice just started shooting and it's not yet been aired....they are dead set on getting MGY to play the heroine

March 6, 2013 at 5:57 PM

March 6, 2013 at 6:01 PM

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Thanks for writing about this!!! I've been waiting for one of you ladies to post something about MGY, so happy!
Am so excited, isn't the director, the same one who also did "Ruler of your own world?"
Here are my top picks: Song Joong Ki, Jung Il Woo (any chance he'll do back to back sageuks though? Kim Jae Wook, Lee Jun Ki or Nam Goong Min?????
I also was hoping she'd get cast in the "Princess Deok Hye" movie, but am also going to be happy with this!

March 6, 2013 at 7:03 PM

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A 32-episode series about Joseon pottery doesn't sound like the most exciting thing ever, but I'm really happy at the prospect of MGY getting out of bad/fluffy rom-com zone. I haven't seen any of her work after Cinderella's Sister (where she was so good!), but I believe the bad reviews. If she gets a good male lead and the story and romance are really good, I just might watch this because I do still really love her.

March 6, 2013 at 7:07 PM

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i am really dying to see Moonie with Jung Il Woo..i can really sense that they will surely have a great chemistry and im sure they can both do their roles well since both of them are excellent in sageuk dramas....and since Il Woo said on one of his interviews,he really want to work with Moonie so i think this would be the best chance for them!!!!

March 6, 2013 at 7:15 PM

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i am now terribly wishing that it would be really Jung Il Woo who will be the male lead role....i really don't like what happened to his character on TMETS...he deserves to be loved also,..i am reall obsessed on hoping that i could see them together acting lovey-dovey!OMO!i am so crazy right now...all i can do now is an MV featuring them and hoping that someday i can make a lot of fanmade MVs of them huhuhu

March 7, 2013 at 12:42 PM

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... is Choi Kang Hee molesting Joo Won in 7th level civil servant?

The gap between Gong Yoo and Moon Geun Young is tame in comparison to some others and is quite frankly pretty normal, especially in sageuk times. I doubt Gong Yoo would agree to a project focused on the female lead but 'molesting' goes a bit far IMHO.

March 7, 2013 at 2:03 PM

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I didn't say the actual age gap was the problem. I said the way it would look would be weird. MGY looks way younger than she is; if I had no idea who she was I'd guess her as maybe 16. GY on the other hand, is a guy in his thirties and looks every bit of it. Honestly I thought the Park Si Hoo pairing was iffy, and he looks younger than GY.

Pairing someone who looks sixteen with someone who looks 35 might be historically accurate for Joseon, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't look a little creepy to a modern perspective. IMHO.

March 6, 2013 at 8:06 PM

March 6, 2013 at 8:28 PM

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she may not be the prettiest around, and maynot be able to kiss passionately if not asked to by the PD, but MGY is one of the finest actresses around...I've seen how she evokes emotions in like split seconds in most of her drama/movies behind the scenes...if that's not good acting, I dunno what is! (and she cannot even hide behind a pretty face since many believe she's quite plain looking)

March 6, 2013 at 8:40 PM

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i agree with you..MGY is one of the finest actress of her age that's why many used to dislike her because of this fact...i much prefer if she would have a serious role rather than a comedic one because i think that suits her better,though i really love her character in My Little Bride....i am not really into her as Mary or Alice.

March 6, 2013 at 8:54 PM

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He will be doing Swords and Flowers (apparently the show got pushed back to accommodate his schedule) for KBS, so no dice unless he backs out at the last second. It would have been an interesting pair, though...

March 6, 2013 at 8:53 PM

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Moon Geun-Young is always a delight to watch with her reservoirs of immense talent. Loved her portrayal of Shin Yoon-Oh and prickly porcupine Song Eun-Jo! Ah, and it's PD Park Seung-Soo who helmed the iconic drama Ruler of Your Own World (2002). It'll be interesting to see how he'll handle the sageuk genre.

March 7, 2013 at 12:51 AM

March 7, 2013 at 1:53 AM

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I second CJM, SJK, Jung Il Woo, KRW, PYC, Im Joo Hwan as the male lead.. maybe can consider Jae Hee as well? if any of these great actor are picked it will be really awesome.. dream come true which is rare occasion happening to me.. :) hehe.. i want to add PSH in the list, but not sure if his case will be resolved by then..

i thought i'm the only one prefer MGY in serious role.. i love her acting in CS, and plan to dig TPOTW later.. i don't really like her in her recent rom-com, maybe the script was not good enough cause i know she's a very good actress.. her My Little Bride was awesome so it's proven that she can do rom-com well too.. at such a tender age some more.. and of course great pairing with KRW..

March 7, 2013 at 5:17 AM

March 7, 2013 at 6:03 AM

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Uhhh excited! I haven't seen Moonie in anything good yet (only Alice...), but after watching her in Autumn in My Heart, I have a soft spot so I'll definitely watch this and maybe the painter in the wind as well...